Chile 2-0 Brazil: Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez earns Copa America winners a first win over South American rivals in 15 years

• Chile beat Brazil in as they opened their World Cup qualifying campaigns
• Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez clattered the post in a goalless opening half
• Eduardo Vargas put Chile ahead, sweeping home a 72nd-minute free-kick
• Sanchez poked home the hosts' second to earn a famous victory
• More news on Alexis Sanchez performance for Chile

By Oliver Todd for MailOnline

Published: 20:29 EST, 8 October 2015 | Updated: 06:08 EST, 9 October 2015

Chile further proved their worth as South America's top side, breaking new ground again as Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez earned just their second-ever World Cup qualifying win over Brazil in Santiago.

Back on the site of their greatest triumph, this year's Copa America win, Chile raced on to the road to Russia 2018 with a frenzied and hard-fought 2-0 victory in their capital's Estadio Nacional.

It took them a while to find the opening, but with 18 minutes remaining Vargas swept home past Jefferson before Sanchez added an 88th-minute second.

Eduardo Vargas celebrates after his goal gave Chile a famous win over Brazil in World Cup qualifying

Vargas swept in Matias Fernandez's free-kick via the weak fingertips of Brazilian goalkeeper Jefferson

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez scored Chile's second goal in stoppage time to seal the famous victory

Arturo Vidal, who had a hand in Sanchez's sealing goal, roars in delight as he congratulates his team-mates

Brazil were without talisman Neymar, who still has two games left on his Copa America suspension, with defender Miranda deputising as captain in the continued absence of out-of-favour Paris Saint-Germain star Thiago Silva.

Barcelona forward Neymar accepted a four-match ban following his red card for kicking the ball at an opponent and appearing to aim a headbutt at another in June's Copa defeat by Colombia.

This game marked the beginning of a drawn-out process that spans almost two years which both of these sides should comfortably get through to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

All 10 CONMEBOL teams play each other in home-and-away round-robin matches with the top four qualifying directly and the fifth-placed side facing a play-off against a traditionally-weak Asian nation.

Despite the high chances of progression from qualifying for both sides, the game between last summer's World Cup round-of-16 opponents opened at a frantic pace from the start. 

Chelsea midfielder Oscar battles for the ball in the air with Gary Medel in a frenzied and hard-fought contest

Hulk and David Luiz climb above the amassed Chile defenders as they attack a first-half corner for Brazil

Arsenal star Sanchez was a doubt for the game but showed his usual high energy levels early on

Former West Bromwich Albion defender Gonzalo Jara gets the better of Chelsea winger Willian in a challenge

Willian fights it out with Bayern Munich midfielder Vidal in a frenetic opening to the World Cup qualifier

PSG defender David Luiz, formerly of Chelsea, had to be withdrawn in the first half after suffering an injury

Willian is felled by Chile's Marcelo Diaz as he looks to continue his good form from the Premier League

Brazil were the victors on that occasion, but it was Chile who came closest to finding the net in a goalless first period.

Queens Park Rangers flop Vargas flashed a shot wide of keeper Jefferson's goal in an energetic opening from the hosts, sandwiched by wayward efforts from Brazil forward Hulk.

Former Chelsea defender David Luiz had to be withdrawn after suffering a injury and Chile took almost instant advantage of the immediate uncertainty in defence when Arsenal's Sanchez clattered the post from range with Jefferson stranded.

Hulk battles for the ball with Medel having fired two shots wide in the opening period in Santiago

Luiz Gustavo is marked by Chile's Francisco Silva as both countries began their route to Russia 2015

Chelsea star Willian was at the heart of much of Brazil's attacking play in the absence of talisman Neymar

Brazil were booed back out on to the field at Santiago's Estadio Nacional ahead of the second half

Hulk stung the palms of Claudio Bravo with a better-placed strike in first-half stoppage time but the Barcelona stopper did enough to gather and keep the game goalless at the break.

Brazil were booed back on to the field after half-time before the South American champions emerged and it perhaps affected Oscar when a decent opportunity came the Chelsea playmaker's way, which he wasted.

With 56 minutes gone Chile were again denied by the woodwork, Mauricio Isla's punted effort cracking off the left-hand upright as La Roja continued to threaten. 

Vidal, who was also a doubt for the game, showed no ill-effects of his problem in an all-action display

Real Madrid defender Marcelo leaps above a sliding challenge from Mauricio Isla on the right flank

Hulk, leading the line for the Brazilians, takes a tumble after a well-timed tackle from Vidal in midfield

Brazil looked the part on the counter though, and Marcelo Diaz was forced into a cynical foul on Willian, drawing a yellow card, as the Chelsea winger took up the initiative in Neymar's absence.

As the game ebbed on the pace showed no sign of slowing and Sanchez again came close, sliding within inches of substitute Mark Gonzalez's cross-cum-shot after unselfish work from La Roja's midfield linchpin Arturo Vidal.

After 72 minutes, they finally got the goal they deserved, courtesy of some questionable keeping from Jefferson and Vargas' quick-thinking.

After 72 minutes, Chile finally got the goal they deserved, courtesy of some questionable Jefferson keeping

Vargas screams in delight after putting the hosts on the way to a first win over Brazil in 15 years

Medel smiles on top of the pile of players joining Vargas to celebrate his 72nd-minute goal in Santiago

Vargas, scorer of four goals in this summer's Copa triumph, was the beneficiary, as he swept home a Matias Fernandez free-kick via the weak left glove of the goalkeeper.

And after Brazil substitute Ricardo Oliveira went close, Sanchez made sure by tapping in after great combination work with Vidal.

Chile join Venezuela and Colombia as teams to have taken maximum points from their opening qualifying games with a first win over the five-time world champions in 15 years.

Vidal salutes the Estadio Nacional crowd who helped to roar the hosts to victory on Thursday evening

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